Colorado Builds on No Child Left Behind Reforms; Offers Even More Options to ParentsLast week, Governor Bill Owens of Colorado signed into law a new school choice program expanding the number of options available to the parents of qualified low-income students. Deputy Under Secretary for Innovation and Improvement Nina Rees praised the new program in a Denver Post op-ed on Sunday. Following are select quotes from the op-ed:

"The new law builds on the principles of the No Child Left Behind Act, President Bush's historic education-reform initiative, by giving even more options to parents whose children attend underperforming schools."

"Nothing is more powerful to school reform than an informed parent with options. The new Colorado law will improve education not only for children who choose different schools, but also for children who choose to stay in their public school. When parents have options on where to send their children, public schools respond by improving their performance."

"Having options is not some experimental idea. It is part of the very fabric of American life. It is an expectation."

"The No Child Left Behind reforms provided Colorado's parents with options. Gov. Bill Owens and the legislature have now provided one more."

The complete text of the op-ed was published in the April 20, 2003 edition of The Denver Post. It is no longer available online.